Some parents are upset about a new rule at a public pool in Sylmar that forbids young boys from entering the women’s changing area.
The El Cariso Park pool this week began only allowing boys age 5 and older inside the men’s area, removing them from the side with their mothers or female guardians.
One mother said she was fearful of her young son being alone with strangers.
“Saying my little boy is five and I need to send him by himself...I don’t know who those people are,” mom Linda Chicas said.
The pool manager told NBC4 he adopted the rule after some women in a water aerobics class were upset about seeing boys ages 9 and 10 inside the women’s changing room while women were undressing. He said children can enter through the side gate and avoid the showers altogether.
“They can put curtains up or dressing rooms,” said mother Lydia Portillo, who added that she has to tell her son to hurry up in the men’s area so she can see him on the other side.
“Last year, we didn’t have this issue,” Chicas said.
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Since the new rule has sparked such debate, the manager admitted he may have to change the policy yet again.
